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Swamp Fever

No one in my family understands it. I detest bugs. I fear snakes. And Spanish moss gives me the willies. But I love swamps. Love them.

Maybe it’s the mysteriously murky water, the otherworldly Cypress knees, or the imposing tranquility of trees so much older than any of us. I love the legends, too, and the rich culture of people and places intricately connected with swamps.

If you, too, have swamp fever, you won’t want to miss SwampFest on October 4th and 5th. Spanning several locations, this festival celebrates the culture and history of Lower Richland County and the Congaree Swamp. Visit http://www.congareeswampfest.com/ for more details. Also, visit the Congaree National Park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/cong/index.htm for additional programs and information.

You can also get your swamp on by finding out more about the Congaree and other wetlands with any of the wonderful library resources listed below!

Amazon Says: The author, John V. Dennis, presents a comprehensive description and detailed historical account of America's cypress swamps, which are found as far north as southern Delaware more...

Amazon Says: The author, John V. Dennis, presents a comprehensive description and detailed historical account of America's cypress swamps, which are found as far north as southern Delaware and southern Illinois and extend from Florida westward to Texas. less...

Amazon Says: The history of Columbia dates to 1786, when the South Carolina General Assembly moved the seat of government from Charleston to a plateau overlooking the Congaree River at the more...

Amazon Says: The history of Columbia dates to 1786, when the South Carolina General Assembly moved the seat of government from Charleston to a plateau overlooking the Congaree River at the confluence of the Broad and Saluda. These three rivers helped transport people and goods, power textile mills, generate energy and support a growing community. Now, former industrial sites are giving way to recreational areas, and the heritage and natural beauty of the rivers emerge afresh. Author and photographer Vennie Deas-Moore captures both the beauty and the history of these waterways in this lovely volume. less...

Amazon Says: Featuring 375 color photos and 80 full-color detailed mapsmore than any other park guidebookthis is the most comprehensive, up-to-the-minute book of its kind on the market more...

Amazon Says: Featuring 375 color photos and 80 full-color detailed mapsmore than any other park guidebookthis is the most comprehensive, up-to-the-minute book of its kind on the market today. A perennial favorite with more than a million copies sold in previous editions, it reflects National Geographic’s century-long association with America’s national parks system and its peerless reputation for travel expertise and cartographic excellence. The guide opens with an essay by Yellowstone authority Paul Schullery, a section on how to use the guide, and a national locator map. The parks are presented alphabetically region by region, with individual maps and geographical profiles. Colorfully illustrated descriptions offer tours tailored to the time available, whether it’s an hour or a week, and tell visitors the best spots to enjoy hikes, spectacular vistas, wildlife, and more. An Information & Activities page provides practical advice on visitingpark contact information, camping and lodging, accessibility, pet restrictions, things to do, and special advisories. Excursions to nearby wildlife refuges, monuments, forests, and other areas of exceptional interest follow many of the park entries. From planning a trip to making the most of every minute, here’s all the information anyone could want on the scenic national parksthe crown jewels of the park systemplus invaluable advice from National Geographic writers who know them well. less...

Amazon Says: A celbration of the spirit and natural beauty of this unique area, Lowcountry: The Natural Landscape explores its diverse habitats - the salt marshes, Carolina bays, beaches, more...

Amazon Says: A celbration of the spirit and natural beauty of this unique area, Lowcountry: The Natural Landscape explores its diverse habitats - the salt marshes, Carolina bays, beaches, barren islands, swamps, rivers, and forests. This volume generates an appreciation for this landscape that is both timeless and in a state of trasition from development and natural erosion. less...

Amazon Says: In the revised and expanded edition of this classic guide, Ralph W. Tiner introduces readers to the ecology and beauty of the wetlands in eastern North America. Topics include more...

Amazon Says: In the revised and expanded edition of this classic guide, Ralph W. Tiner introduces readers to the ecology and beauty of the wetlands in eastern North America. Topics include their formation and functions, wetland types, causes of loss and degradation, and recent efforts to protect them. The discussion now includes many examples from the Great Lakes region and information on best management practices for working in and around wetlands including vernal pools. A new chapter on classification and assessment further clarifies how the unique characteristics of these important natural resources serve specific functions.In Search of Swampland also provides a field guide to wetland plants, soils, and animals. It includes detailed descriptions and illustrations—many of which are new to this edition—of more than 300 plants and 200 animals. Clear identification keys, information on how to distinguish typical hydric or “wet” soils from dryland soils, and general procedures for identifying wetlands in the field make this book an indispensable resource for readers with little or no training in wetland science, as well as for the scientist or amateur naturalist. less...